May 12, 2008
Category: Alice shares... • conference chatter • travel • women in science
Okay, so I've been keeping this under my hat for the last six-eight months, scared of jinxing things, but it's becoming arduous to keep hiding, so I'm sharing.
Purdue submitted a proposal in December for an NSF-ADVANCE institutional transformation grant - the purpose of these grants are to improve the lot for and of women in science and engineering academia, particularly faculty positions. I'm listed as a co-PI on Purdue's grant.
NSF hasn't awarded anything yet, so we are in official limbo, waiting for word. However, the waiting game has now bumped into the annual ADVANCE PI meeting, where all the PIs and co-PIs on the grants get together to share successes and challenges. Because NSF hasn't made any decisions yet, some (many? all? I have no idea) of us who submitted proposals were invited to the meeting, even though we still may not get the grant. It's somewhat awkward, and will be super-heartbreaking if we don't get one in the end. But I've been asking around, and this seems to be a fairly common occurrence for ADVANCE, perhaps because it's a cross-cutting program and there's that many more people to convince to pony up the funds. I have no idea.
Anyway. I'm at the meeting today, and wanted to share some thoughts, so figured it was time to come out of the grant closet. And hope the Jinx Fairy isn't watching.
Read on »
Posted by Alice at 10:05 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: mommy monday
I have to remember to lower my expectations for holidays. When my expectations are low and things go wrong, the expectations are met, and I am satisfied. When things go right, I am surprised and happy. High expectations of things beyond my control breed dissatisfaction.
Part of the problem with Mother's Day this year was that I couldn't really decide what I wanted from the day. For the weeks leading up to the day, I dreamed of several hours to myself - to go out hiking with the dog or at least to the fabric store to get fabric for a new quilt. I wanted recognition for my hard work and long hours as a mom and recognition that I had once had a life separate from child and job.
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Posted by ScienceWoman at 12:06 PM • 7 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
May 9, 2008
Category: ScienceWoman says... • science education • travel
I'll be in Atlanta next Tuesday and Wednesday to help judge the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, a collection of the brightest and most dedicated high school science students from around the world. I'll also be blogging about my experiences there (h/t PZ), so look for an uptick in posting next week.
There's still the opportunity to help judge the fair. Judges are still needed in lots of areas, because they try for a ~1:1 ratio of competitors to judges and there are >1500 finalists. It is a substantial committment: you need to register on Tuesday afternoon and then work all day Wednesday, but it is a fabulous experience for you and the students you'll talk to. (You do need a PhD or a MS and 6 years of professional experience). If I haven't scared you off yet, you can get more info here. There are also opportunities for general volunteers and interpreter volunteers (47 countries represented). The website registration for volunteers seems to broken, but you can email info@intelisef2008.org for more info.
I'm going to have about 2 hours of down time in the whirlwind 2 day trip, but if anyone lives or works near the convention center and wants to meet up on Tuesday afternoon/evening, send me an email. One element will be missing from my trip to Atlanta: Minnow. I'm sure there's a post or two in that as well.
Posted by ScienceWoman at 4:47 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
May 7, 2008
Category: Scientiae
The newest Scientiae Carnival has been posted by Flicka Mawa at her blog, A Cat Nap. Flicka has been going through some trials at the same time as getting Scientiae together, so her carnival is doubly-fabulous. Thanks for the great reading, Flicka, and good luck with your next steps!
Posted by Alice at 9:46 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: academic adventures
It's finals week here at Mystery U and I am noticing perceptibly different reactions on the parts of the students and the faculty. The students walk out of an exam joyful and free, while the professor gathers up yet another stack of papers to grade and thinks longingly of the research she *still* doesn't have time to do.
But there is a common thread in these exam experiments...the nightmares about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's probably a variation on the classic nightmare about suddenly finding yourself naked in a public place.
Read on »
Posted by ScienceWoman at 10:22 AM • 5 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
May 6, 2008
Category: Alice shares... • academic adventures • goal setting
I got back into town at about 1:00 pm on Monday from a weekend at my other house. I ate lunch from leftovers in the fridge from at least 1.5 weeks ago (ack), and proceeded to waste much of the rest of the afternoon. While I did call some landscapers for help with our blank-slate back yard, and go to the grocery store, and make risotto and sauteed cauliflower for dinner (with leftovers!) and eat it outside, I did no *real* work - ie, work for which I am being paid. And while I should indeed have time without work in order to recharge for the next day, I don't yet feel enough on top of work that I feel I can coast in the evening. People assure me things are different in one's second year.
And, more immediately, while I can afford the odd day or weekend with little official work being done, I can easily see my lazy afternoons taking over my summer without any trouble at all. And that will be very uncool.
So how am I going to get my groove back over the summer, while also getting a research project started and 3 papers submitted for publication, and advising 2 students?
Read on »
Posted by Alice at 6:46 AM • 12 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
May 5, 2008
Category: link love • mommy monday
I'm still processing Thursday's events, and I'm busy writing finals, grading papers, and hosting a prospective student...but that doesn't mean that other people aren't writing about things totally perfect for Mommy Monday.
Here are some of my recent* favorites:
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Posted by ScienceWoman at 8:59 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
May 4, 2008
Category: Alice shares...
Right, so I now live (most of the time) in Indiana. We're up next, along with North Carolina, in the presidential primary spotlight. I've been getting multiple mailings every day, we've got ads on TV, the cities are being visited by major players; while I'm new to Indiana and am coming from the battleground state of Wisconsin, this is apparently a new experience for most Hoosiers.
So, as we progress through the last weekend before the primary on Tuesday, how am I thinking about who to vote for?
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Posted by Alice at 10:40 AM • 17 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
May 2, 2008
Category: ScienceWoman says... • academic adventures
Yeah, yeah, why is she blogging about Thursday, when it's already Friday?
Well, folks, it's gonna take me more than one night's sleep to lower the cortisol levels that shot up in my body yesterday. Lemme share the highlights.
Read on »
Posted by ScienceWoman at 9:55 AM • 10 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
ScienceWoman is a first-year assistant professor in -ology. She blogs about the intersection of science and real life - primarily based on her first-hand experiences. Her older posts can be found 
Alice Pawley is an assistant professor of 
